Suha Punta Beach

Suha Punta is a wooded peninsula a few kilometres west of Rab Town, on Rab Island in Croatia, and Suha Punta Beach is one of the quietest places to swim near the island’s main town. It lies on the sheltered side of the island, with the water calm and clear and pine trees growing down to the shoreline, so shade is never far away.

Rab is often called the green island of the Kvarner Bay, and the contrast with the stony, barren islands farther south is striking. Large parts of the island are covered in woodland of pine and holm oak, a result of protection and deliberate planting that go back well over a century. Near Suha Punta the forest park of Dundo, a protected holm oak wood, reaches toward the coast, and the beach sits at the edge of this forest, which gives the area its resinous scent and the constant background noise of cicadas in summer. The island is also among the sunnier places on the Adriatic, so warm, bright days are the rule in summer.

The shoreline here is a mix of pebbles and smooth rock, with flat slabs that make it easy to enter the water and lie in the sun. A small resort area with a hotel and apartments sits on the peninsula, and there are a few simple facilities such as a place to buy drinks, though the feel is relaxed rather than commercial. Many people walk or cycle along the paths through the pines, and the trails that run along the coast and into the forest give good views over the water. Snorkelling is rewarding where the rock meets the sea.

Nearby, other sights on the island make a good addition to a beach day. The walled old town of Rab, with its four bell towers and narrow stone streets, is a short ride away, and the Tower of St. Christopher is part of that historic scene. Rajska Plaža at Lopar, a long sandy beach that is rare in this part of the Adriatic, lies at the north end of the island, and FKK Kandarola, a naturist beach with a long history on Rab, is also on the coast. Suha Punta is quieter than these and makes a good retreat in the middle of the day.

It suits families, couples and anyone who wants pine shade and calm water. In July and August go early or late to avoid the busiest hours, and bring water shoes for the rocks. Check for any seasonal restrictions on the forest paths, since fire risk can limit access in dry summers.